Socket assembly



Sept. 29, 1942. R, A, FUNK SOCKET ASSEMBLY Filed April 29, 1940 Im/ENTOR. RUSSELL A. FUN

ATTORNE Patented Sept. 29, 1942 UNET-ED STATES ETENT OFFICE SOCKET ASSEMBLY .Russell A. Funk, Pleasant Ridge,cMich.

Application April 29, 1940, Serial No.,332,346

Claims.

This invention relates generally tof lamp socket assemblies and refers more particularly to improvements in lamp sockets of the type attachable to a suitable mounting member.

One of the principal objects of this invention resides in the provision of a lamp socket assembly composed of a relatively few, simple parts secured together to form a unitary construction and having improved means for readily yattaching the socket assembly to a mounting member.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a socket assembly having an ennular flange insertable into an opening in the mounting member from one side of the latter and having a portion movable into clamping' engagement with the opposite side of the mounting member in response to axial movement of the ange into the opening.

A further advantageous feature of this invention consists in the provision of a .socket assembly having a continuous annular angeprovided with circumferentially spaced portions adapted to be flexed inwardly uponinsertion of the flange into the opening in the mounting member from one side of the latter and to'return toward their normal positions at the opposite side of the mounting member to cooperate with the latter in effectively securing the socket` assembly inplace on the mounting member.

In Aaddition to the foregoing, the present invention contemplates a socket lassembly ofthe type set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein the continuous annular ange is provided with diametrically opposed embossedportions adapted to frictionally engage the side edges of the mounting member surrounding the opening and having relatively weak portions between the embossed portions deformable within their elastic limit by the stress placed on the embossed portions to not only permit the embossed portions to ex inwardly as Vthey are advanced f Figure 4 Ais a fragmentary elevational view showing a slightly modied form of socket assembly.

Although the present invention may be advantageously employed to secure practically any type of lamp socket to a mounting member, nevertheless, for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, I have shown a socket for use in the single Wire circuit commonly employed in connection vwith motor vehicles. It will be understood, therefore, that each of the several views on the accompanying drawing is enlarged somewhat from actual size to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Upon reference to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, it will be noted that my improved socket assembly is provided with a tubular casing I0 having one end reduced to form an annular shoulder II and having bayonet slots I2in the opposite end portion for detachably receiving an electric light bulb I3. Slidably mounted in the casing I0 is an insulating block I4 of dielectric material having an electrical contact I5 secured to the center thereof in a position toengage the cooperating electrical contact I 6 on the electric light bulb. The contact I5 `on the insulating blockis yieldably urged into engagement with the contact I6 on the light bulb by means of a coil spring I1 located in the casing I D'with one end abutting the shoulder II and with the opposite end abutting the insulating block. -Electrical energy is supplied to the bulb by means of an electrical conductor I8 extending from the source of supply through the reduced end of the casing I0 and secured to the electrical contact I5. In accordance with conventional practice, the casing is electrically connected'to a common ground with the source of supplyand this ground forms the return side of the circuit.

In order to maintain the insulating block I4 in assembled relation vwith the casing I0 when the bulb is removed from the casing, I provide a, pair of shoulders I9 forming an abutment for the insulating block. In the present instance, the shoulders are formed by striking diametrically opposed portions of the casing inwardly so that the free edges of the portions face the reduced end of the casing and engage the end of the insulating block facing the bulb `end of the casing.

During assembly, the portions |9 are flexed outwardly by the insulating block as this block is inserted into the casing through the bulb end of the latter. It will, of course, be understood that when the insulating block is moved beyond the portions I9, the latter return to their inner-v collar 22 having a hub 23 telescopically engaging the casing IIJ and permanently secured to the latter. In addition, the collar 22 is formed with a continuous annular flange 24 of greater diameter than the casing I0 and connectedto theY hub 23 by means of an annular bead 25. The

annular flange 24 surrounds the bulb end of the casing |0 and preferably extends beyond the latter end of the casing.

The collar 22 is formed of sheet metal and is preferably subjected to an ironing operation durv ing its fabrication to impart a high degree of resilience thereto. Generally speaking, the annular flange 24 is of less diameter than the diameter of the opening 2| and this flange is inserted into the opening from one side of the mounting member by an axial shifting movement of the socket assembly relative to the mounting member. It will be noted, however, that diametrically opposite sides of the annular flange 24 are embossed to form two pairs of ribs 26 which extend parallel to the axis of the collar from a, point adjacent the free end of the flange 24 to a point adjacent the bead 25. The ribs 26 of each pair are spaced from each other circumferentially of the flange 24 and are interconnected by means of a reinforcing rib 21 extending circumferentially of the flange 24.

Upon reference to Figure 3, it will be noted thatreach rib 26 has a portion 28 which inclines outwardly from the cylindrical free end portion 29 of the flange and is integrally connected to a second portion 30 which inclines inwardly to a position adjacent the bead 25. The arrangement is such that when the collar is moved with the casing into the opening 2| formed in the mounting member, the portions 28 of the diametrically opposed pairs of ribs frictionally engage the edge of the mounting member surrounding the opening 2|. The stresses applied to the annular flange 24 by the frictional engagement of the portions 28 on the ribs 26 with the mounting member serve to flex the rib portions of the flange inwardly and to bow the relatively weak portions 32 of the annular flange outwardly. This stress is increased until the points 33 of the ribs assume positions within the opening 2| are so designed, however, that the stress on the ribs is not entirely relieved and, accordingly, the collar is securely held under tension in the opening 2| through the mounting member.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4 is similar to the construction previously described, with the exception that the annular flange 24 is longitudinally slit at opposite sides of one pair of ribs 26. 'I'he arrangement is such that as the flange 24 is inserted into the opening in the mounting member, the inclined portions 28 on the ribs serve to flex the spring finger inwardly. It, of course, follows that as the flange 24 continues its axial movement through the opening of the mounting member, the inclined portions 30 on the ribs permit the finger to return toward its outermost position. However, the stress is not entirely relieved from the spring finger and, accordingly,

f the latter is held under tension in the opening of thev mounting member. As a result of the above arrangement, the securing action is obtained without deforming the side portions of the flange between the diametrically opposed ribs on the flange and this construction may be preferred in cases where it is desirable to provide a quickly detachable connection between the socket and mounting.

It follows from the foregoing that my improved socket assembly may be readily secured to a mounting member by merely shifting the socket assembly axially relative to the mounting member to locate the annular flange 24 in the opening formed in the mounting member. It will also be observed that the socket is composed of a relatively few number of parts capable of being inexpensively manufactured, assembled and installed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with a mounting member having an opening therethrough, a socket assem- ,V bly, an annular imperforate flange on the socket in the mounting plate and is gradually relieved l as movement of the collar into the opening through the mounting member continues. In this connection, it will be noted that continued movement of the collar 22 in the aforesaid direction engages the portions 3|) of the ribs with the assembly adapted to extend into the opening in the mounting member from one side of the latter and having diametrically opposed reinforced parts frictionally engageable with the edge of the mounting member surrounding the opening to apply a stress on the flange in an inward direction upon insertion of the flange into the opening in the mounting member, the portions of the flange between the'reinforced parts being sufficiently weak to bow outwardly within their elastic limits by the stress applied to the reinforced parts, and said reinforced parts vhaving provision for engaging the opposite side of the mounting member to secure the socket to the latter.

2. In combination with a mounting member having an opening therethrough, a socket assembly, an annular imperforate flange on the socket assembly adapted to extend into the opening in the mounting member from one side of the latter and having diametrically opposed outwardly edge of the mounting member surrounding the i opening 2| and, since the portions 3D are inclined inwardly, it follows that the stress on the ribs is decreased. Of course, decreasing the stress on the ribs permits the relatively weak portions 32 of the flange 24 to return toward their normal positions and to effect an outward movement of the rib portions of the flange 24. The inwardly inclined portions 30 on the ribs l26 the flange, each of the ribs having portions inclined inwardly toward the axis of the flange from a point intermediate the ends of the rib, the inclined portions of the ribs adjacent the free end of the flange adapted to frictionally engage the edge of the mounting member surrounding the opening to flex the ribs inwardly upon axial movement of the flange into the opening of the mounting member and the other portions of the ribs permitting the latter to return toward their outermost positions whereby the ange is held under tension in engagement with the mounting member.

3. In combination with a mounting member having an opening therethrough, a socket assembly, an annular continuous ange on the socket assembly adapted to extend into the opening in the mounting member from one side of the latter and having two pairs of diametrically opposed ribs extending parallel to the axis of the flange and arranged with the ribs of each pair spaced from each other circumferentially of the iiange, the end portions of the ribs adjacent the free end of the ange being inclined to frictionally engage the edge of the mounting member surrounding the opening and flex the ribs inwardly, the opposite end portions of the ribs being inclined in a direction to permit return movement of the ribs toward their normal positions and to secure the ange under tension to the mounting member.

4. In combination with a mounting member having an opening therethrough, a socket assembly, an annular imperforate ange on the socket assembly adapted to extend into the opening in the mounting member from one side of the latter and having diametrically opposed outwardly embossed ribs extending parallel to the axis of the flange, each rib having portions inclined inwardly from a point intermediate the ends thereof, the inclined end portions of the ribs adjacent the free end of the flange being engageable with the edge of the mounting member surrounding the opening to ex the ribs inwardly, the opposite inclined end portions of the ribs' being inclined to a lesser degree than the end portions aforesaid to secure the ange under tension to the mounting member.

5. In combination with a mounting member having an opening therethrough, a socket assembly, an annular ange on the socket assembly adapted to extend into the opening in the mounting member from one side of the latter and having diametrically opposed outwardly embossed ribs extending parallel to the axis of the ange, each rib having portions inclined inwardly from a point intermediate the ends thereof, the inclined end portions of the ribs adjacent the free end of the ange being engageable with the edge of the mounting member surrounding the opening to flex the ribs inwardly, the opposite inclined end portions of the ribs being inclined to a lesser degree than the end portions aforesaid to secure the flange under tension to the mounting member, and an annular bead on said Iiange at the end of the second named inclined portions of the ribs to limit the extent of axial movement of the flange relative to the mounting member.

RUSSELL A. FUNK. 

